The Finding Aid of the James R. (Jim) Wilburn Papers 0157
Nathan Heard and Kelsey Knox
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
May 2021
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu 90263-4786
Business Number: (310) 506-4434
Fax Number: (310) 506-4117
kelsey.knox@pepperdine.edu
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: The James R. (Jim) Wilburn Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0157
Physical Description:
13 Linear Feet
26 Hollinger document cases
Date (inclusive): 1984-2015
Abstract: Jim Wilburn is a distinguished professor at Pepperdine University. In 1997, he was the founding dean of the School of Public
Policy. Under his leadership, Pepperdine University became substantially more involved in international business affairs.
These papers contain Wilburn's correspondence with professors, business associates, and other colleagues. They also contain
attendence records, financial records, and photographs.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Arrangement
This collection of papers is divided into three series: Series One: Chrono Books, Series Two: Megeve Conference Files, and
Series Three: School of Public Policy Chrono Books. The Chrono Books are arranged chronologically by folder; the papers were
removed from three-ring binders referred to as "Chrono Books" and kept in their original order. Following the Chrono Books,
the Megeve Conference Files are also arranged chronologically by folder.
Biographical / Historical
James R. Wilburn was born in 1932 and has spent most of his life involved in academia. He passionately pursued several degrees,
earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in biblical studies at Abilene Christian University. He also received his PhD
in economic history from the University of California, Los Angeles; a master's degree in history from Midwestern State University;
and an MBA from the Pepperdine Presidents and Key Executives program, which he earned while simultaneously serving as Pepperdine's
vice president for university affairs.
Wilburn joined the Pepperdine administration in 1971. As the university provost, he took a central role in moving Pepperdine's
campus entirely to Malibu. This process met with some opposition but was eventually finalized in 1981, closing Pepperdine's
South Los Angeles campus permanently.
In the 90s, Wilburn participated in public policy work with post-Soviet Russia and President Ronald Reagan. From 1991 to 1996
Wilburn served as cochair of the U.S. Committee to Assist Russian Reform, a program funded by the U.S. Department of State
and authorized by Boris Yeltsin.
Wilburn has served in many administrative roles at Pepperdine and helped overcome a plethora of challenges to the school,
includnig the move to Malibu campus and an arsonist attack in th early 80s. He has served as provost and as vice president
for university affairs. He has also served as the dean of multiple departments, the most recent being interim dean of the
School of Public Policy (SPP), a position that he has held for the past fifteen years.
Wilburn always felt torn between administrative responsibilities and a love of learning and teaching. He is well loved and
respected by students in the SPP program and has reported feeling inspired and encouraged by his interactions with them.
In addition to his experiences in higher education, Wilburn has authored books on American history, business management, and
faith and public policy.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], James R. (Jim) Wilburn Papers, Collection no. 0157, Special Collections and University Archives,
University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Scope and Contents
This collection of papers contains detailed records of Jim Wilburn's correspondence with other professors at Pepperdine and
with business associates and other colleagues. These records were compiled into "Chrono Books," each of which beins with a
"list of correspondence" that makes note of the individuals with which Wilburn communicated in that Chrono Book. It also contains
documentation of Wilburn's involvement in the Megeve and Geneva conferences from 1985-1990. A significant portion of the series
consists of Wilburn's correspondence with other participants in the conference, but the series also includes Wilburn's attendence
records, financial records, and photographs.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Series 1:
Chrono Books
1984 January-1994 December
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by folder. The papers were removed from three-ring binders referred to as "chrono
books" and kept in their original order.
Scope and Contents
This series contains detailed records of Jim Wilburn's correspondence with other professors at Pepperdine, as well as with
business associates. These records were compiled in "chrono books." Each chrono book contains a "list of correspondence,"
which note of the individuals that Wilburn communicated with in the corresponding chrono book.
box 1, folder 1
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 1
1984 January-June
box 1, folder 2-3
Correspondence from Chrono Book 1
1984 January-June
Scope and Contents
The second folder containing correspondence from this book includes correspondence with President Richard Nixon.
box 1, folder 4
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 2
1984 July-November
box 1, folder 5-6
Correspondence from Chrono Book 2
1984 July-November
box 1, folder 7
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 3
1984 November-1985 February
box 2, folder 1-2
Correspondence from Chrono Book 3
1984 November-1985 February
Scope and Contents
The second folder containing correspondence from this chrono book includes correspondence with Steve Jobs.
box 2, folder 3
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 4
1985 February-May
box 2, folder 4-5
Correspondence from Chrono Book 4
1985 February-May
box 3, folder 1
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 5
1985 June-October
box 3, folder 2-4
Correspondence from Chrono Book 5
1985 June-October
box 3, folder 5
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 6
1985 October-1986 February
box 3, folder 6-7, box 4, folder 1
Correspondence from Chrono Book 6
1985 October-1986 February
box 4, folder 2
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 7
1986 March-July
box 4, folder 3-5
Correspondence from Chrono Book 7
1986 March-July
box 4, folder 6
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 8
1986 July-October
box 4, folder 7, box 5, folder 1-2
Correspondence from Chrono Book 8
1986 July-October
box 5, folder 3
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 9
1986 November-1987 March
box 5, folder 4-6
Correspondence from Chrono Book 9
1986 November-1987 March
box 5, folder 7
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 10
1987 March-June
box 5, folder 8, box 6, folder 1
Correspondence from Chrono Book 10
1987 March-June
box 6, folder 2
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 11
1987 July-November
box 6, folder 3-4
Correspondence from Chrono Book 11
1987 July-November
box 6, folder 5
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 12
1987 November-1988 April
box 6, folder 6, box 7, folder 1-2
Correspondence from Chrono Book 12
1987 November-1988 April
box 7, folder 3
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 13
1988 April-October
box 7, folder 4-5
Correspondence from Chrono Book 13
1988 April-October
box 7, folder 6
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 14
1988 October-1989 February
box 7, folder 7, box 8, folder 1
Correspondence from Chrono Book 14
1988 October-1989 February
box 8, folder 2
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 15
1989 February-July
box 8, folder 3-4
Correspondence from Chrono Book 15
1989 February-July
box 8, folder 5
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 16
1989 August-1990 January
box 8, folder 6-7
Correspondence from Chrono Book 16
1989 August-1990 January
box 9, folder 1
List of Correspondence from Chrono Book 17
1990 January-September
box 9, folder 2-3
Correspondence from Chrono Book 17
1990 January-September
Scope and Contents
The second folder of correspondence from this chrono book includes correspondence with President Ronald Reagan.
box 9, folder 4
List of Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 23
1992 October-1993 April
box 9, folder 5-7
Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 23
1992 October-1993 May
box 10, folder 1
List of Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 24
1993 April-July
box 10, folder 2-4
Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 24
1993 April-August
box 10, folder 5
List of Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 25
1993 August-December
box 11, folder 1-3
Correspondence from Chrono notebook
1993 August-October
box 11, folder 4
List of Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 26 + Floppy Disk
1993 December-1994 May
box 11, folder 5, box 12, folder 1-2
Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 26
1993 December-1994 May
box 12, folder 3
List of Correspondence and Floppy Disk from Chrono Binder 27
1994 May-August
box 12, folder 4-6
Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 27
1994 May-June
box 12, folder 7
List of Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 28
1994 August-December
box 12, folder 8, box 13, folder 1
Correspondence from Chrono Notebook 28
1994 August-December
Series 2:
Megeve Conference Files
1985-1990
Arrangement
The series is arranged chronologically by folder, but the series was previously stored in three- and four-ring binders.
Scope and Contents
The series documents Jim Wilburn's involvement in the Megeve and Geneva conferences from 1985-1990. A significant portion
of the series consists of Wilburn's correspondence with other participants in the conferences. The series also includes Wilburn's
attendence records, financial records, and photographs.
box 13, folder 4, box 14, folder 1-2
box 14, folder 3-4
Correspondence from the Megeve Conference
1987
box 15, folder 1
Megeve Conference Budget and Expenses
1987
box 15, folder 2-4
Correspondence from Megeve Conference
1988
box 15, folder 5, box 16, folder 1
Correspondence from the Megeve Conference
1990
Series 3:
School of Public Policy Chrono Books
1996-2015
box 17, folder 1
Chrono Book I
December 1996- March 1997
box 17, folder 2
Chrono Book I
1997 March-May
box 17, folder 3
Chrono Book I
1997 May-1998 February
box 17, folder 4
Chrono Book I
1998 March-1999 July
box 17, folder 5
Chrono Book II
1999 May -2000 April
box 18, folder 1
Chrono Book II
2000 April-October
box 18, folder 2
Chrono Book II
2000 October-2001 February
box 18, folder 4
Chrono Book III
2001 July-September
box 18, folder 3
Chrono Book III
2001 February- July
box 18, folder 5
Chrono Book III
2001 September-2002 January
box 19, folder 1
Chrono Book IV
2002 January-February
box 19, folder 2
Chrono Book IV
2002 February
box 19, folder 3
Chrono Book IV
2002 March-June
box 19, folder 4
Chrono Book IV
2002 June-September
box 19, folder 5
Chrono Book V
2002 October-2003 January
box 20, folder 1
Chrono Book V
2003 January-April
box 20, folder 2
Chrono Book V
2003 April-October
box 20, folder 3
Chrono Book V
2003 October-November
box 20, folder 4
Chrono Book VI
2003 November-2004 January
box 21, folder 1
Chrono Book VI
2004 January-May
box 21, folder 2
Chrono Book VI
2004 May-June
box 21, folder 3
Chrono Book VI
2004 July-December
box 21, folder 4
Chrono Book VI
2004 December-2005 March
box 22, folder 1
Chrono Book VII
2005 May-August
box 22, folder 2
Chrono Book VII
2005 August-November
box 22, folder 3
Chrono Book VII
2006 January-June
box 22, folder 4
Chrono Book VII
2006 June-August
box 23, folder 1
Chrono Book VII
2006 August-October
box 23, folder 2
Chrono Book VIII
2006 October-2007 January
box 23, folder 3
Chrono Book VIII
2007 January-June
box 23, folder 4
Chrono Book VIII
2007 June-September
box 23, folder 5
Chrono Book VIII
2007 September- 2008 February
box 24, folder 1
Chrono Book VIII
2008 February-July
box 24, folder 2
Chrono Book IX
2008 August- 2009 February
box 24, folder 3
Chrono Book IX
2009 February-May
box 24, folder 4
Chrono Book IX
2009 May-December
box 24, folder 5
Chrono Book IX
2010 January-December
box 25, folder 1
Chrono Book IX
2010 December-2011 August
box 25, folder 2
Chrono Book X
2011 September-2012 February
box 25, folder 3
Chrono Book X
2012 February-July
box 25, folder 4
Chrono Book X
2012 July-November
box 25, folder 5
Chrono Book X
2012 November-2013 July
box 26, folder 1
Chrono Book XI
2013 August-2014 February
box 26, folder 2
Chrono Book XI
2014 February-September
box 26, folder 3
Chrono Book XI
2014 September-2015 July
